Cardiff City's next four matches - three of them away - will decide their fate in the near future.

Manager Dave Jones has highlighted the four games - Birmingham tomorrow, the Norwich, Southampton and Derby - as crucial to City's promotion ambitions, and will determine whether Cardiff are in with a shout for automatic promotion or will have to settle for a play-off place.

'Our aim is to go for second spot,' says Jones. 'But the next four games will let us know whether that is possible.

'They will determine which places we are going for.

'But we've had our rough patch and we have a near-fit squad with everybody except Darren Purse fit and available.'

Purse is close to full fitness, but won't be ready for tomorrow's trip to face Coca-Cola Championship high flyers Birmingham City at St Andrew's.

Michael Chopra is leading the City charge with his 21-goals, but Jones warns: 'Anybody who thinks we are a one-man team are kidding themselves.

'The first was from a penalty and the second after a touch of Peter Whittingham magic. True, Chopra was in the right place, but without that build-up from Whitts he wouldn't have scored.

'Chopra is among the top six strikers in the division and if you take him out of our team of course it makes a difference. But you could say that about a player from any team.

'If you take Didier Drogba out of Chelsea's team, does it affect them? Of course. But are they still a strong team? Yes.

'Michael's career had been stumbling along when he came to us. He had been out on loan a few times and could not break through at Newcastle United.

'Sometimes you have to take a step back to go forward and hopefully he will be back where he wants to be with Cardiff City. Every person at Cardiff City should have aspirations to be doing their job at Premiership level.

'Chops has done well, he's been brilliant. But it's not about one season. He has to do this consistently over the next eight, nine and 10 years.'

Jones also praised new signing Whittingham, who has netted three goals in the last five City games.

'Whitts is getting better, he's getting fitter,' says Jones. 'It takes two or three weeks to settle coming to a new club and he was having cramp for two or three games.

'Now his fitness is there. Whitts is a super player and for us to pick him up for £250,000 from Aston Villa was a steal.'

Jones is tempted to name an unchanged City team following the 4-1 home win against Preston North End, but does have Simon Walton, Kerrea Gilbert and goalkeeper Neil Alexander available again.

He believes his three changes against Preston - Kevin McNaughton, Riccardo Scimeca and goalkeeper David Forde - brought a new, fresh look to the team.

'Perhaps I will change it up again,' said Jones. 'Hopefully, Neil Alexander is OK after suffering from flu, but I will make my decisions and let the players know.'

The Bluebirds go into the clash with Birmingham having won five and drawn one of their last seven matches.